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[0:02] Mason Bray: Welcome back to Real Talk with me, Mason Bray. I appreciate you being here for this week's episode. This one is from my New York trip in September, where I talked to Sean McManus, who at the time was rounding out his 100th performance in Beetlejuice on Broadway as a vacation swing. He is now on tour with Beetlejuice, so please join me in pretending that our entire conversation is about the tour. Because the life of Beetlejuice has unfortunately passed on. Make sure to keep up to date with my new episodes on my social media at underscore real talk underscore pod on Instagram and Twitter, and at Real Talk Podcast on TikTok. Now joining me is Sean McManus, who is currently on Broadway as a vacation swing and grew up doing shows at the Paper Mill Playhouse and was recently on the tour of Cats before booking his amazing Broadway debut. So hi Sean.

[0:52] Sean McManus: Hi Mason, how are you?

[0:53] Mason Bray: Good, how are you?

[0:54] Sean McManus: I'm good.

[0:55] Mason Bray: So let's dive in. Can you tell me a bit about how you got to where you are?

[1:00] Sean McManus: Yeah, um, as your lovely intro stated, um, I grew up like five minutes from Paper Mill Playhouse, which is a big regional theater, and um I started doing creative drama classes there, and then took dance lessons when I was about like 12 or 11. And um I've just always loved performing, and I've always like my biggest goal has always been to be on Broadway. So the fact that I'm here now is like kind of crazy.

[1:28] Mason Bray: Yes.

[1:29] Sean McManus: Um, and we were talking about before the interview, you played Bert in Mary Poppins, your junior year. Um, what is it like looking back on those memories of wanting to be on Broadway and then seeing it now that you're at the Marquee Theater?

[1:42] Sean McManus: It's wild. Funnily enough, Mary Poppins was my first Broadway show that I saw, so I loved getting to, yeah, right? And then I loved getting to have the full circle moment of being in it in high school. I always took what I did really seriously because I knew what my goals were and I knew that I had to work hard to achieve them. So when I got the call for this, of course, I was like flabbergasted and so excited, but I also was really nervous, right? Because then all of your expectations start creeping in and some nerves like, am I gonna be good enough? This and that, but all of that faded soon after I started because it's just like the best group of people in the world, and I am still pinching myself that I'm here.

[2:31] Mason Bray: Yeah.

[2:32] Sean McManus: And you posted your reaction on um TikTok, and I wanted to ask you about having public eyes on you while you're learning through Broadway, but also trying to be as authentically as yourself on stage.

[2:45] Sean McManus: Sure, that's a good question. And I think it's something that our generation has to navigate now a lot more frequently because of social media. I would say that I looked up to a lot of stars growing up, right? Like I used to watch all the Broadway.com vlogs, like remember all those that they used to do. They need to bring those back immediately.

[3:07] Mason Bray: I agree.

[3:08] Sean McManus: And um, so I think of it in those terms because I wanna give access and give a glimpse behind the scenes for the kids who are like me who are yearning to be in that position, but don't have the access necessarily.

[3:24] Mason Bray: Yeah.

[3:25] Sean McManus: So I do think that there's some pressure because you have to like watch what you say because people are listening, but at the same time, I get excited about it because I'm living in what I imagined so long ago. Um, so I'm happy to do it.

[3:41] Mason Bray: Yeah. And you also get to make friends deeper than like backstage stuff because you have Carrie Butler and Elizabeth Teeter who are always on your TikTok, which I love.

[3:52] Sean McManus: Besties love them.

[3:53] Mason Bray: Yes. So you joined the show in June as a vacation swing. Can you explain what that is?

[3:58] Sean McManus: Yeah, a vacation swing is basically like any other swing, which if your listeners don't know, a swing is someone who mainly covers ensemble roles. Uh that substitutes in for an ensemble member when they're sick, injured, etc. When they call out of the show. Um, a vacation swing is a bit different because we are called in only when an actor is taking their vacation. And if I'm not mistaken, I think Equity Broadway actors have two one-week long vacations per year, right? So, like that's usually the time when I would come in. Now, in this day and age with COVID, I'm in the building a lot more because on top of vacations and uh paid time off, people also have to be out if they test positive for coronavirus. So uh yeah, that's pretty much my role or my duty.

[4:52] Mason Bray: And what is the rehearsal process like for that?

[4:55] Sean McManus: Sure, I had an interesting process because they needed to kind of rush me into the show, but um, you start out just with the dance captain and a stage manager in a studio, like at Pearl or Ripley Greer, excuse me. Um, and then you slowly start to add more elements on. So, like I started out in a rehearsal studio, and then the next week I got on stage, and then a couple other swings and understudies would join me, and then we would all kind of work through the show together until it builds up and builds up until you're on stage with the full company.

[5:31] Mason Bray: Love that. And now you are at 70 shows?

[5:34] Sean McManus: Yeah.

[5:35] Mason Bray: That's insane. Great job to you.

[5:37] Sean McManus: Thank you.

[5:38] Mason Bray: And I know that I've slowly got a peek into this, but some of the COVID guidelines behind the show, how do you manage that from an actor standpoint of like you have to have your mask off by this point to go on stage, but also protecting those around you?

[5:54] Sean McManus: Yeah, it's definitely a learning curve because we've never had to use those backstage, right? But um I just kind of try to use my best common sense when I'm in a big group of people. I tend to put my mask on to ensure safety. And then backstage, we're encouraged to pretty much mask up right until the moment we have to be on stage. So even backstage in the wings we'll have our masks on. Um, they have nice little compartments for us. Usually they'd be for your water bottles or Kleenex or something like that. And now they're for masks, which I guess proves the world that we live in. Um yeah, so they've come up with a really nice system. We also test twice a week, uh, sometimes more, depending on if we have like present COVID cases within the company. Um, but they do a great job. Our COVID safety team does really well.

[6:48] Mason Bray: So um, what are your preparations for a show? Because with a swing, you might be on any track on any night. So, what are your different preparations to make sure that you're in the same mind space to perform that show?

[7:01] Sean McManus: I have a system that I've come to realize works really well for me. I think every swing has their own system. I color code a lot of the different tracks, and then I put those tracks uh all together in a spacing chart, and that way I'm able to navigate. Okay, this is where Ramon, who's yellow, goes next to Ryan, who's red, etc. Um, I also will watch tapes of rehearsals uh to ensure that I know the traffic and the spacing. Um, because I'm very much a visual learner, so if I find that I'm going on later that night and I get the call in the morning, luckily I'll have time to watch through the videos and like take an hour or so to brush up on my stuff. But I've also had instances where I've had 29 minutes of preparation, like after half hour getting called in.

So in that case, I do have flashcards. I have my tracking sheets that are color-coded, yet again, and um I just quickly uh skim through those. Fortunately, I um I've been on for all of the tracks long enough now that I don't have to rehearse that much because it's in my body, but in the beginning I had to make sure that I was looking over it constantly.

[8:20] Mason Bray: Being a swing sounds so hard, but they've been so important in keeping the industry running and not shutting down for another two years.

[8:28] Sean McManus: The heroes of Broadway, truly retweet.

[8:31] Mason Bray: I've been saying that so much recently. Anytime someone says something at school, I'm like, retweet.

[8:35] Sean McManus: Mm-hmm.

[8:36] Mason Bray: Retweet. Everything's Twitter now.

[8:38] Sean McManus: Yeah, it is.

[8:40] Mason Bray: I said, I like that. Retweet. Um, will I be making a feature on your TikTok now? You just talking, say retweet now?

[8:45] Sean McManus: Uh maybe.

[8:48] Mason Bray: Every single video, retweet.

[8:49] Sean McManus: Okay, hey, maybe.

[8:52] Mason Bray: So getting more into your TikTok side of yourself. You do a fantastic Patti LuPone impression.

[9:00] Sean McManus: Thank you.

[9:01] Mason Bray: Um where did you find out that you could do that? And many other impressions.

[9:05] Sean McManus: I found out I could do that from watching her bootlegs of Mama Rose in Gypsy when I was 10.

[9:21] Sean McManus: You used to watch Patti LuPone all the time. Um no, anywho, but uh yeah, I would try to mimic the sounds that she was making. That's how I learned how to do her and the iconic vibrato.

[9:34] Mason Bray: Of course.

[9:34] Sean McManus: We get a small sampling of Patti LuPone.

[9:37] Mason Bray: Oh, sure. Um, would you rather hear a Company reference or a Gypsy reference?

[9:45] Sean McManus: Company.

[9:46] Mason Bray: Okay, sure.

[9:51] Sean McManus: Literally, when I listened to that in the show, she's supposed to blend in with the ensemble, and all you can hear is her voice. Oh lord. Okay, here we go. Um, there was a tour guide when we got here today, just walking by and pointed at a theater and was like, this is where Patti LuPone performed this. And then I just like under my breath was starting to sing, and my Patti LuPone impression is awful.

[10:16] Mason Bray: But it's like, oh, I'm sure it's great.

[10:19] Sean McManus: Animangles!

[10:21] Mason Bray: Yep.

[10:23] Sean McManus: Placement. Thank you.

[10:24] Mason Bray: Yes.

[10:25] Sean McManus: Um sorry. That was fantastic. Um, so coming up with ideas for TikTok to keep it engaging to the audience, what is your tactic for that?

[10:38] Mason Bray: To keep the audience engaged.

[10:43] Sean McManus: I just, to be honest, I just do things that are interesting or funny to me, and I hope that it translates to the viewership. I think if you are constantly trying to impress people, your content doesn't come across as authentic, you know what I mean? So generally it's like I will, if I'm watching a show or I'm listening to a soundtrack, and I think, oh, that would be funny to dub Patti's voice on top of that. That's usually the process of how it works. Um, and then people seem to enjoy it.

[11:15] Mason Bray: Yeah. I can't tell you how many times I've sent my friends links, and it's just you as Patti LuPone said. And then recently it's been sitting out and being like, I'm interviewing this guy in New York. How? This is a huge step for me.

[11:30] Sean McManus: And funny story, so I had to have my COVID test today, and we had the rapid antigen. We brought it with us because the government gave them out last year, I think. Um, but we didn't get to check into our hotel until like an hour ago. So we sat down in Central Park and did a COVID test.

[11:48] Mason Bray: That is incredible.

[11:49] Sean McManus: And also, like, good on you for starting this. Like, it's very difficult to start a podcast and maintain it for so long. So, like, good on you. This is very impressive.

[12:00] Mason Bray: So, one question that I've asked every single person that I've interviewed ever, I think. So, you recently graduated from college um before Cats. And do you think that education and schooling shaped you more as a performer or learning while you're on the job and your experience?

[12:18] Sean McManus: For me, I needed and wanted the four years of a BFA program to kind of nurture the skills that I already had. Um, but I think the answer to that is it depends on who you are, because I know a lot of people who didn't go through a musical theater program at a college level who are now working professionally and killing the game, right? So, but in my experience, I enjoyed the atmosphere of college because I grew as a person on top of a performer. And I think if you're still trying to find elements of who you are, college is a good opportunity to do that because when you move to New York, sometimes you're like having to um, you know, maintain yourself with a job as well as auditioning, and it becomes you know, very taxing. So I was fortunate to have those four years to grow as a person as well as an artist. So I'm happy I did that, but I also think that like any journey is a valid one.

[13:23] Mason Bray: Yeah.

[13:23] Sean McManus: And I think you were talking about being a better person. I think that also goes hand in hand with being a better artist is finding your own way to create yourself in a character, but also portray another character.

[13:34] Mason Bray: Yeah, that I completely agree. Like the people who are most informed and the most experienced people I find are like the best actors.

[13:45] Sean McManus: Yeah.

[13:46] Mason Bray: So growing up around theater, what do you hope people learn from whether it be like high school theater or community theater as a way to make their way to Broadway?

[13:58] Sean McManus: I would say just work hard to be the best version of yourself and try not to compare yourself to the people that are working right now. Um, I just say that because the industry changes all the time, and even the types of shows that are on Broadway change all the time. So that being said, like, don't I when people say, oh, just be you, sometimes I don't love that because I also think that like being just you isn't always enough. Like I also think you need to nurture the talents you already have and work on the things you're not already great at. Um, so for me, like I came into college primarily as a dancer, right? And worked really hard in my voice lab to ensure that I, you know, came out with a stronger voice than I came in with.

Um, and I worked really, really hard and like now I'm really proud of where I'm at. Of course, I've got a long way to go, but I'm happy with where I am now. So I think that's the secret, is like be you, but work hard to be the best version of you.

[15:00] Mason Bray: That's fantastic.

[15:02] Sean McManus: And I know dance is one of my struggle areas. I am a mediocre mover.

[15:08] Mason Bray: Hey, that's okay.

[15:09] Sean McManus: That is all right.

[15:11] Mason Bray: But um yeah, we're working on it. We're working hard. Um, what Broadway shows do you suggest for people to come see this season?

[15:20] Sean McManus: It's a packed season.

[15:22] Mason Bray: It is a packed season.

[15:24] Sean McManus: Beetlejuice, of course. Plug, shame as plug, because it's the best show ever. Um, do you mean like shows that are currently coming in or shows that are on Broadway right now?

[15:34] Mason Bray: Either one works.

[15:35] Sean McManus: Um, I love Six is a great one. I love Wicked is a timeless one to me. Like I could see that show hundreds of times, and I kind of already have. Um, also A Strange Loop is very artful and creative in the way that it presents itself. Um, and also I hate to go back to it, but Beetlejuice, just to give another plug, has all of those things that I just mentioned about the other shows combined into one. The score is awesome, the talent is amazing, the set and the spectacle is the best part in my opinion. And it's also a great story. Like, there's a lot of heart and a lot of ingenuity amidst all the craziness and chaos. So I would say if you are interested at all, come by and see us.

[16:25] Mason Bray: Yes.

[16:26] Sean McManus: Well, is there anything from the standpoint of the show or anything that you wanted to add before we wrap up?

[16:32] Mason Bray: I just uh what I'll say is this show has had such an arc. Like if anybody knows the story, you know, we started out in one theater, the pandemic hit, it was questionable as to whether we were gonna come back or not, and now we're back, which is awesome. And um it's just it's one of the coolest fan bases I've ever seen, let alone been a part of. Because like I've been around like a long time, not necessarily just performing, but I've been seeing shows and been a fan of Broadway for so long. And this fan group is just like one of the coolest, most dedicated groups of people I've ever seen. Um, so I just want to like encourage people to keep doing that because Beetlejuice is great about fan interaction. So we, you know, do a lot of fan contests and even like the new playbill is a fan art project that is now the cover of the playbook, which is so awesome. So I would just say, like, keep up the creativity and the ingenuity because we are watching.

[17:34] Mason Bray: Yeah.

[17:34] Sean McManus: And I don't know who's in charge of the playbook covers and all that kind of stuff, but the way that the show just like encourages art because they have that whole fan art wall, I think is very beautiful to see from a Broadway show.

[17:48] Mason Bray: Absolutely.

[17:49] Sean McManus: Because artistry manifests in many different shapes and sizes, right?

[17:55] Mason Bray: So as a theater artist, I can't draw to save my life.

[17:58] Sean McManus: It's just a fact.

[17:59] Mason Bray: But um a lot of the fans can, and it's so cool to watch that.

[18:05] Sean McManus: I love that.

[18:06] Mason Bray: Um, well, if there is nothing else, um, I think that's all I have. Thank you so much for being here and agreeing to do this in person.

[18:16] Sean McManus: Of course.

[18:16] Mason Bray: This was so fun. Thank you for having me.

[18:19] Sean McManus: Thank you so much, Sean, and thank you so much for listening and making it to this part of the episode.

[18:25] Mason Bray: I hope to see you next week as I come back with another interview. Thank you so much.